So how clued up are you about diabetes? I know a fair amount (I think) but I had no idea that ASDA offer free diabetes checks. Read on for more info :
**************************************
Diabetes cases on the rise, but over half the nation still aren’t concerned
· Asda reveals 55% of Brits don’t see diabetes as a health threat
· 1 in 10 Brits still don’t understand diabetes
· 1 in 3 are oblivious of diabetes testing
· Asda offers customers free testing nationwide
Despite recent reports that 700,000 people in the UK are estimated to have diabetes by the end of the decade, research by Asda today reveals over half the nation (55%) still aren’t concerned about developing the disease. To help tackle the problem, Asda Pharmacy is offering a free test to all shoppers and its 180,000 colleagues nationwide.
Despite Scotland topping the UK’s adult obesity league, with 65% of adults overweight or obese, shockingly 45% of Scots state diabetes isn’t a health consideration for them. In Northern Ireland, 58% say they aren’t worried, 41% in the South and North of England, 34% in the Midlands and 31% in Wales, proving the nation isn’t taking diabetes seriously.
This lack of concern may be a result of nationwide misunderstanding about the disease, with over one in 10 (13%) admitting they still don’t know what diabetes is. There is also a great deal of confusion about the causes, worryingly even amongst people who suffer themselves, or know someone has been diagnosed with it. 40% of Brits incorrectly believe eating sugary foods, a virus or fasting for long periods of time, causes diabetes – of which all are myths. 38% of Brits actually with diabetes say eating sugary foods is the cause, and 7% think it’s a virus.
And with the NHS stating there are around 850,000 people with undiagnosed diabetes in the UK, it’s worrying to discover more than 1 in 3 Brits (35%) are unaware you can get tested. Despite being at a higher risk if a family member has the disease, 34% of people in this category still haven’t been tested.
Faisal Tuddy, deputy superintendent pharmacist at Asda said: “It is worrying to discover people still aren’t clued up to the causes of diabetes, especially when statistics from Diabetes UK and the NHS prove we're a nation at risk. We offer free blood glucose screening and advice to our shoppers, which can help indicate the likelihood someone has, or is at risk of developing diabetes in the future. We’re testing over 1,000 shoppers a month and aim to educate people about diabetes and raise awareness nationwide."
The blood glucose test, carried out by trained pharmacy colleagues, measures the amount of glucose in your blood at the time of the test. While this test does not diagnose diabetes, a positive screening result highlights the possibility the patient may be at risk and offers the opportunity for them to seek the correct medical advice.
The test is completely free and available in all 248 Asda Pharmacies nationwide all year around. With no need to make an appointment customers can simply stop by while they do their weekly shop.
For more information visit www.asda.com.
Other blogposts you may be interested in :
good to know
ReplyDeletethis will really save lives
ReplyDeleteThat's handy to know, thanks for letting us know x
ReplyDelete